Linking Maize Farmers to Market: A Case Study of Private Extension service in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

This paper presents the activities of a private extension outfit along maize value chain in Ogun state, Nigeria. The study reveals that the outfit performs functions that are not limited to knowledge transfer but as well as building integration and interaction among the diverse actors. The study further identified crucial performance indicators to evaluate success and ensure sustainability of the actors. Challenges such as breach of trust and sharp practices were also identified as obstacles to this approach. Meanwhile, farmers were able to experience improved linkage to market as a result of the well coordinated maize value chain. These findings had therefore demonstrated how private extension services in Nigeria are responding proactively to the pressure of changing roles and additional responsibilities of extension by rendering services that are not fully covered in public extension services.